Moonlight Cloud, Akeed Mofeed - Sunday Round-up

Exciting stars Akeed Mofeed (left) & Moonlight Cloud (right) were both victorious on Sunday

Moonlight Cloud unleashed a devastating turn of foot to land the Gp1 Prix Maurice De Gheest at Deauville yesterday afternoon for the second year in a row.

This win proved her narrow second to Black Caviar in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot was no fluke and confirmed her as Europe’s top sprinter.

Jockey Thierry Jarnet had the four-year-old settled at the tail of the field having broke well and at the two furlong pole produced her to score with ease at odds of 7-10, leaving the rest of the field looking like they were running in slow motion in behind.

Wizz Kid was second, whilst British raider The Cheka remained a picture of consistency taking third for Eve Johnson Houghton after being bumped up by the stewards from fourth following interference from American Devil.

With Deacon Blues out for the season, let’s hope trainer Freddy Head and owner George Strawbridge take the decision to once again aim Moonlight Cloud at the British Champions Sprint Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot in October in which she was fifth last year, as we need a top class sprinter to wow us on the biggest day of the flat season.

Elsewhere on another Sunday of top action, Akeed Mofeed got his season back on track with an easy win at Cork in the listed Platinum Stakes for trainer John Oxx.

Big things had been predicted for Akeed Mofeed this season, including by me, so it was good to see him finally showing the potential we all saw in him as a two-year-old.

Sent off the 2-5 favourite, the result never really looked in doubt especially after the withdrawal of main market rival Duntle, who had previously claimed victory at Royal Ascot.

After the race Oxx said: "I'm not sure what happened to him in the [Irish] Derby. I think it was a mixture of him not staying and blowing up a bit… I don't think he's a stayer. I think a mile to a mile and a quarter is his trip. They went a good gallop and he quickened up well on the ground… We'll feel our way with him now. He might go for the Kilternan Stakes. He's entered in the Champion Stakes, but we'll take our time with him before stepping back to Group One company.”

Chester’s good card was sadly abandoned half-way through yesterday afternoon though after a thunder storm brought torrential rain down on the course.

Three races did take place before the abandonment with Mark Johnston's good run continuing as his rapidly-improving Van Ellis won the M & S Bank Queensferry Stakes in the highlight of the racing that did take place.

Around 3.30pm though the course was hit by the downpour and although racing was initially delayed for half an hour while the storm passed, the remainder of the card was soon called off with pools of standing water having formed on the track.